And truth be told, somewhat of a seductress…
Although, why, he couldn’t guess.
His mother had relayed to him that she and Miss Fortune had embarked on their charade with the sole purpose of convincing him to release Miss Meadowbrook from the agreement Hunt had with the girl’s father.
Perhaps Miss Fellowes simply wanted a little fun over her holiday—fun he had been more than willing to provide. He didn’t know what to believe.
And he didn’t care.
Hunt berated himself for the hundredth time since Meadowbrook exposed her. He’d been so blinded that he’d not even questioned that she’d not been a virgin.
And her story of the man whose death she caused. Had any of it been true?
Had he been right all along to believe she was in love with some other man?
He needed answers, and yet she’d mesmerized him once. What would keep her from doing it again?
He’d seen what he wanted.
“Talk with her, Cousin. Say your piece if nothing else.”
But Hunt shook his head. He didn’t wish to hear her explanations and excuses. They would likely just be more lies.
She’d crossed the line. More than that, she’d sailed miles past it.
The story that she’d done it to protect a student hardly justified all the falsehoods they’d perpetuated on not only him but his mother, sisters, their guests…
“I’ve wasted enough time on Miss Priscilla Fellowes, and I refuse to waste a second more.” He lifted his stare to Edgeworth. “Let’s leave at first light.”
That moment before Dawn
Priscilla and Chloe had hoped to slip away quietly the next morning, but before they made it out the front door, they were met by three of Hunt’s sisters, arms crossed, blocking their escape.
Eloise glared daggers, along with Mary Grace, but the look of hurt on Isadora’s face was nearly too much to bear. At least Priscilla wouldn’t have to look into Evie’s eyes, which looked so very much like Emerson’s.
Valise in hand, Priscilla glanced over at Chloe, who seemed as lost for words as she was. There was, in fact, only one thing either of them could say.
“I’m sorry,” Priscilla offered.
“We both are,” Chloe added.
Which put them at something of a stalemate until Eloise spoke up. “I knew you weren’t a student. But no one believed me.”
“We all had doubts. You didn’t act like you were only ten and seven. And we might have called you out if Hardwood hadn’t insisted we be nice to you. So we were. And we liked you. And you were lying all along.” Mary Grace narrowed her dark green eyes.
Priscilla clasped her hands in front of her, keeping herself from reaching for Mary Grace’s hands.
Of course, she hadn’t fooled these girls.
“Did your mother suspect as well?” Chloe asked.
“Our mother was too distracted with her party,” the oldest sister answered.
But of all his sisters, Priscilla had grown closest to Isadora over the course of their visit. Wincing, she met the younger girl’s gaze. “I don’t expect you to forgive us anytime soon, if ever, but please believe that I am so very sorry. What we did was wrong. I wish we could have done things differently.”
“As do we.” Isadora’s mouth twisted into a grimace.
There was nothing else to say. Mere words couldn’t make this right.
